Men’s basketball (8-2, 0-0 MAC) rose victorious on Saturday after a double overtime battle against Florida International (4-7).

The Huskies had early trouble getting set on offense and let the Panthers hit some easy baskets. FIU jumped out to an early 13-4 lead about eight minutes into the game.

NIU continued to chip away and tied the game at 13 on a three-point play by senior forward Chuks Iroegbu with 9:32 left in the first half. FIU guard Kimar Williams hit a buzzer beater to put the Panthers up 27-25 at halftime.

The Huskies came out with more energy in the second half, opening the period with a three pointer by junior guard Aaric Armstead. A series of blocks on one end and a three pointer on the other by senior guard Travon Baker gave the Huskies a 35-30 lead less than four minutes into the half.

Both teams went back-and-forth in the last few minutes of the game and NIU held a 58-55 lead with 18.8 seconds left. FIU’s freshman forward Stephen Elmo hit a three pointer to tie the game at 58 with three seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Both teams traded baskets to open the first overtime. Williams drained two free throws to put the Panthers up 64-61 with 18.5 seconds left. NIU guard Michael Orris raced down the court for a layup to cut the lead to one, 64-63.

Baker hit a layup to tie the game at 67 and send it into a second overtime.

Armstead hit a huge three pointer with two minutes left in the game to put NIU up 74-72. Orris grabbed an offensive rebound after a missed three pointer to keep the possession alive and sophomore center Marin Maric was sent to the free throw line. Maric hit one of two attempts to make it 75-72 with 44 seconds left.

NIU forced a FIU turnover with 19 seconds left and Baker hit a free throw to seal the game for the Huskies, 76-72.

“It was a hard-fought game by both teams,” said head coach Mark Montgomery, according to a NIU Athletics news release. “(FIU) is well-coached, they played hard. I think both teams probably thought they won the game. We thought we had it in regulation and they made a NBA three, they probably thought they had it in the first overtime.

“I thought we really executed down the stretch. Our guys did not panic. The free-throw line almost cost us, you can’t shoot 52 percent, miss all those free throws and expect to win a game, but credit our guys for making plays, playing hard, sharing the ball and coming up with key stops.”

NIU shot 41.2 percent (28-68) for the game and the bench contributed 24 points. 15 of the bench points came from Iroegbu. Maric recorded another double double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Huskies will be back in action this week, taking on Roosevelt on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.